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The Spanish Prime Minister apologised to his country’s Parliament yesterday
for mishandling a vast corruption scandal, but denied any involvement and
rejected calls to step down.

Mariano Rajoy poured scorn on demands for him to resign over allegations
surrounding Luis Bárcenas, the disgraced former treasurer of his ruling
Popular Party (PP). The affair has threatened to destabilise the eurozone’s
fourth-biggest economy, which is struggling with debt and 26.3 per cent
unemployment.

“His [Bárcenas] accusations are false and his half-truths are
false,” Mr Rajoy told the lower chamber. “Neither has a second set of books
been kept nor any offence been